Waikato take provincial sevens title

An extraordinary finals day saw Waikato clinch their sixth national provincial men's sevens title.

In sweltering conditions at Rotorua's International Stadium, Waikato decisively defeated defending champions Wellington 38-19 in the cup final, turning the tables on the capital boys after a 35-5 shellacking in Saturday's pool play.

"They've got big boys. We had to change our game plan [after the pool clash] and we adapted well in the final. We were lucky to have some superstars in Luke Masirewa, Declan O'Donnell and Isaac Te Tamaki," said Waikato skipper Wharenui Hawera, after lifting the cup for the first time since 2010.

Waikato's Sunday form was superb, dispatching a disappointing Auckland outfit 28-14 in the quarter-final, and then blanking neighbours Bay of Plenty 33-0.

Wellington, whose sevens programme under coach Scott Waldrom looks in better shape than their 15s game, worked much harder in the playoffs, but then bolted to a 12-0 lead in the final via Tamati Samuels and Ambrose Curtis.

They had 73 per cent of the ball in the first half, but could not make it count as Waikato ground them down, forcing errors. It was Joe Tauiwi Memorial player of the tournament Luke Masirewa who hauled Waikato back into the contest, scoring two fine tries, the first from 65m. Big Dylan Collier pounced on a loose lineout ball for the first of his double, while Declan O'Donnell also crossed for a double.

Waikato's victory impressed as they did not have access to their New Zealand guns Tim Mikkelson and Joe Webber.

North Harbour's form was scratchy but they emulated their 2014 side by winning the bowl, 26-21 over Manawatu, going into golden point extra time.

Counties Manukau were committed, and had just eight fit players for the semifinal, where the game ended with a borderline dangerous tackle by Wellington's Vaea Fifita on captain Sikeli Nabou.